Letter from Iraq

Giving Their All

Rodge- This came to me about 4th hand, but it's genuine. It's a note from a soldier to his mother, and she gave permission for me to forward. Don't know if it's of interest, but... (Merrily) Subject: Get 'Er Done Update (UNCLASSIFIED) Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE   Greetings and Happy Valentine’s Day! I know it has been a while since I’ve written.  As you will have gathered in the news, much is going on here.  Actually, way more than you see in the news – they only give you the bad stuff.  In any case, one of my fellow senior leaders has been on leave for the last couple of weeks, so I’ve had even more to fill my plate than usual.  Long days and short nights certainly help the time fly by. It is hard to believe we’ve already been here more than nine months.  We passed through the heat of summer, and now seem to have made it through the [relative] cold of winter, as it has now started to warm back up.  I don’t think we’ve quite hit 70 yet, but it’s getting close.  We’ve been talking to the soldiers who will replace us for a couple of months, and are now starting to plan our homecomings. I think I’ve told you before that we work with a lot of Iraqis in our line of work.  Most of those I deal with are the ones who live in Baghdad and commute into the International Zone to work in our offices and on our compound.  To me, they are a brave lot, never knowing what might await them as “punishment” if they are caught working with the Americans.  But they do it anyway.  Part of it is their belief that whatever may happen is God’s will.  A bigger part, in my experience, is their love for their country and their fierce desire to see it restored to the stability and economic prominence it once held. A couple of months ago, one of our Public Affairs officers did an interview with several of our Iraqi Associates.  I’ve attached it for your reading; I hope you’ll find it interesting.  The author, Tommy Clarkson, has since returned to his home in Puerto Vallarta.  Stay safe, Mike COL Michael L. Herman, PE Deputy Commander US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Gulf Region Division (GRD) Baghdad, Iraq COMM (540) 665-5068 DSN 312 265-5068 MCI: 914 360 9672 Iraqna: 0790 192 5841 NIPR: michael.l.herman@tac01.usace.army.mil SIPR: michael.herman@iraq.centcom.smil.mil CENTRIXS: michael.herman@centcom.mcfi.cmil.mil http://www.grd.usace.army.mil/ Read Freedom Takes Time